Did CM Mamata Banerjee's Affidavit Contradict Her Earlier Statements?
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Kolkata, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, stated on Tuesday that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's assertions in her affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court regarding the Enforcement Directorate’s petition about her 'interference' during a search at the office and residence of Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) co-founder Pratik Jain in Kolkata are inconsistent with her statements made on January 8, the day of the raid.
“The Chief Minister has continuously provided false statements on this matter. However, she is now ensnared in a web of her own contradictory remarks. In her affidavit to the Supreme Court, she claimed that she removed certain files from both locations with permission from the ED officials. Yet, on the day of the raid, she publicly stated that she had collected everything and did not permit the ED officials to take anything away. This self-declaration completely contradicts her affidavit,” the LoP told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.
He further noted that the Chief Minister is perpetually contradicting her own statements out of fear of legal repercussions. “Upon reviewing her affidavit and her on-camera statements from January 8, even a child would discern the contradictions,” Adhikari remarked.
The Supreme Court has postponed the hearing on this matter to February 10.
A Bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Vipul M. Pancholi deferred the proceedings after Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, requested additional time to respond to the counter affidavit submitted by the West Bengal government earlier that day.
Mehta informed the Apex Court that he received the state government's response only on Tuesday and that the Central agency needed time to review it and prepare its reply.
Granting the request, the Justice Mishra-led Bench rescheduled the case for further hearing on February 10.